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Familiar names dot '08 Draft board

Familiar names dot '08 Draft board

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By Kevin T. Czerwinski
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MLB.com |

Editor's note: In past years, several players drafted that have had ties to baseball have inadvertently been omitted from this list. While most family ties are announced when a player is selected, occasionally the team making the selection forgets to announce such ties. If any player that has ties is not on this list, please contact us and his name will be added.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- There were brothers and sons, cousins and nephews, relatives from all parts of the baseball family tree drafted during the 2008 First-Year Player Draft at the Milk House. And while baseball relatives were the predominant players selected, two sons from a pair of former NFL greats were also chosen, adding a bit of a different twist to the two-day affair.

The D-backs expended their first-round selection on Daniel Schlereth, son of former NFL Pro Bowler Mark Schlereth. The White Sox added the son of an NFL Hall of Famer on Friday, choosing Virginia prep star Kyle Long in the 23rd round. His dad, Howie, was a Hall of Fame defensive lineman for the Raiders.

The Sox also kept it in the family by choosing Kenny Williams with their last pick Thursday night. The former Wichita State star is the son of Chicago general manager Ken Williams.

Here's a closer look at how they kept in "all in the family" through 25 rounds at the Milk House.

 Jeremy Barfield, OF, San Jacinto College, eighth round by the A's. Son of Jesse, brother of Josh.

Top achievement: Jesse hit 241 homers in a 12-year Major League career. He was an All-Star, a two-time Gold Glove winner and led the American League with 40 homers in 1986. Josh hit .280 with 13 homers and 58 RBIs as a rookie with San Diego in 2006.

Top achievement: Was a sixth-round selection by the Rangers in 2005. Was an All-Star in the Northwest and Texas Leagues and made his Major League debut this year, hitting a homer and driving in four in 57 at-bats.

Top achievement: He's a Hall-of-Famer who hit 536 career homers. He won three AL MVP Awards, including 1956, the year he won the Triple Crown. He was a 20-time All-Star that who hit 18 World Series homers.

 James McGraw, OF Corban (Ore.) College, 40th round by the Rangers. Son of Gary, a Texas scout.

 Kenny Williams, OF, Wichita State, sixth round by the White Sox. Son of Ken, general manager of the White Sox.

Top achievement: Building the team that won the 2005 World Series. A former outfielder with the White Sox (1986-88), Detroit (1989-90), Toronto (1990-91) and Montreal (1991), Williams appeared in 451 career Major League games. He was a lifetime .218 hitter (252-1,157) with 27 home runs and 119 RBIs.